Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR)
Bristow provides search and rescue (SAR) services as a core part of its helicopter services in most of the countries in which it operates. Since 1971, Bristow has flown more than 56,000 SAR operational hours and conducted more than 17,500 SAR missions, during which more than 8,400 people have been rescued by our crews and helicopters worldwide. The company supplies a dedicated SAR helicopter and crew to cover exploration projects in remote areas. It requires specific expertise to conduct SAR operations, and Bristow has been a world leader in SAR for years, with experienced pilots, technical crew, paramedics, engineers and ground crew to conduct SAR operations safely and reliably.
Australia
Bristow provides search and rescue and medical evacuation services to the oil and gas industry.
Canada
In 2012, Bristow acquired an interest in Cougar Helicopters Inc., the largest offshore energy and search and rescue helicopter service provider in Canada. Cougar provides commercial search and rescue services to the oil and gas industry.
Falkland Islands
Bristow operates a local search and rescue service in support of oil and gas operations.
Norway
Bristow provides commercial search and rescue services for a number of oil and gas companies operating in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
Russia
Bristow operates a local search and rescue service for Sakhalin Island in the Pacific Ocean.
Trinidad
Bristow operates a local search and rescue service in support of oil and gas operations.
United Kingdom
Bristow Helicopters has a proud history of providing world-class search and rescue services in the UK, beginning in 1971 with Whirlwind helicopters at RAF Manston in Kent.
In 1983, Bristow Helicopters established the first civilian SAR bases at Stornoway, Sumburgh, Lee-on-Solent and Portland, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, operating S-61 helicopters. Bristow operated this contract until 2007.
In the summer of 2013, Bristow Helicopters began delivery of the UK Gap SAR contract for Northern Scotland on behalf of Her Majesty’s Coastguard with Sikorsky S-92 aircraft from bases at Sumburgh and Stornoway.
The Department for Transport awarded Bristow the UK SAR contract that began in April 2015. By the summer of 2017, Bristow will operate from 10 coastguard helicopter bases around the UK on behalf of Her Majesty’s Coastguard to respond to all SAR incidents for the whole of the UK.
